Auburn needs to get ready for one really bad night...

Time for the Tiger sacrifice ...
Injuries and suspensions decimate Aubie - 
Breaking update: Ward and Denson probably re-instated for the Alabama game... no official word from Barbee at this point. Denson tweets he and Ward are in Tuscaloosa.

There are very few things certain in life. From what I've seen from our basketball team in the last few weeks I probably shouldn't say I am certain we will beat Auburn. But I am certain we will beat Auburn and I suspect it will be "name that score" type game. Alabama has allowed on 11 of their opponents to score over 60 points in a game this season. Auburn likes to run the ball up and down the floor. I don't see how they can get into a running game given the numbers of turnovers they have each game. Add to that the pressure that the Tide is going to put them under with their 94ft. defensive game and this has all makings of a blowout. We can only wish. For Alabama basketball fans this game is just as important as its football counterpoint. 

     Rival games can be tricky to predict. I thought Auburn would have a great chance to beat 'Bama in Cowville, but instead the Tide went out to the pasture and tipped over cows big time. Let me make one thing clear. I don't like Auburn. I have nothing against their players or Coach Barbee. I even cheer (on rare occasions) for Auburn to win a game such as the Arkansas game last weekend. You can never get too much room between someone close in the standings. But I do not like Auburn because of one Pat Dye. I always thought Auburn was a pretty decent place before he arrived on the scene. I'm not say he's a bad coach or a bad person. I just don't like him and I don't think many Alabama fans like him either. One of my fondest memories was going down to Auburn and sitting behind Coach Dye and making so much noise Dye told four of us he'd throw us out of the Cow Palace if we didn't calm down. One of my friends asked him who the heck was he to say that. He said he was Pat Dye. My friend said who the hell is he? And we laughed. He finally got up and left. I'll say this - he stayed in the arena much longer than the other 5000 fans who had showed up that night. 


Auburn has had tougher luck than road kill lately...

     Alabama fans have had their share of worries lately. During the same time the Auburn basketball team has essentially fallen apart from injuries and suspensions. Varez Ware, who transferred in from Texas has been suspended for the remainder of the season. The same for Chris Denson. On top of those self inflicted injury, rising star Allen Payne, underwent successful surgery. He's gone for the rest of the year. Payne, who had a great game against Georgia, was already a replacement for the injured Josh Langford, tweeted he is finished for the season. No official announcement from AU on his status. Barbee did not clarify the reasons for the suspensions. The three will not be available for Wednesday night's game. Alabama seems to be in reasonably good shape. Mitchell is gone for the year, and I don't think that Grant will risk further injury to Trevor Lacey but no official announcement has been made regarding his status other that uncertain. Lacey re-injured an  ankle against Mississippi State first injured against Arkansas. No other injuries have been reported regarding Bama players.


Big Game for the Tide in many ways...


   This is a very important game for Alabama. Even thought the Tigers not going anywhere but home at the end of the season this is still big. #1, the Tide needs this game to win game # 20 which is always a milestone for any program. And the #2 reason it is yet another chance to let Auburn know they are simply not going to be the best program in the State -not this year, not next year, and hopefully not forever. I think it is going to be a long time before Auburn is competitive. I heard Joe Dean, color analyst, and Athletic Director at Birmingham-Southern College, say on the radio today that it won't be next year for the Tigers either. I'm not putting words in Coach Dean's mouth but I thought that it might have been coach-speak for "never". Congratulations to Coach Dean and the entire Birmingham-Southern College program for getting the at large berth to play in the Division III National Championship Tournament. Coach Dean is a class act and a great gentleman and makes all of us Hilltopper grads proud. 


Auburn will play hard...(but it won't matter)

    I know that Auburn will come out and play hard. Frankie Sullivan will get his points. Kenny Gabriel, who I believe is a really good player, is still hampered by back trouble. Auburn just doesn't have enough depth or talent to hang with the Tide. If Auburn should win the game it would redefine the word upset. Auburn gave Alabama its best shot at Auburn and I just think that they don't have the horses to win. Take into account the collapse against Georgia, the injuries, and the suspensions and it isn't a good time for a road trip into Grant's Tomb. Tuscaloosa has seen a couple of losses this season but I wouldn't bet a penny Wednesday night will be another loss. I believe this is going to be a 20+ win for the Tide. Prepare for Auburn to play wild and out of control. Barbee is going to play ugly ball tomorrow night. He has no other choice. I hope Alabama can get some rest for Randolph, Steele, and Releford. Look for Green to open his game up a little and to get ready for the Ole Miss physical inside game. Look for the Swede to get some more minutes as well as Moussa. 


Nationally televised game might impress some voters...

    This game can help 'Bama because it is a nationally televised game, and regardless of the sport the Alabama and Auburn rivalry has a certain marquee value other games don't have. The game is a hard sell out. If you don't have a ticket be prepared to pay 50 bucks outside Coleman for decent tickets. I'd buy one in a heart beat. How often do you get to see Alabama beat Auburn in anything?  Okay, that is almost every time the two teams meet regardless of what the sport might be. Beating Auburn is like seeing a pretty girl. Somethings never get old. Tide fans don't always agree on everything except for beating Auburn. If we can't beat them by 20 then lets be them by 30. Or more. Roll Tide.




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home for sale on Big Island of Hawaii

We have to sell our retirement home located on the ocean near Honoka'a, Hawaii. Family illness has forced us to give up our home. It is named Casa de la Maresa Rollo or in English "home of Rolling Tide". It is full remodeled and furnished with everything included in the sales price needed to just turn the key and move in. It is one mile from the Waipio Valley, "Valley of the Kings" one of the world's national treasures. There you can surf, fish, lay on the black sand, hike, and watch the Whales and dolphins. We have bought homes in Italy and Ecuador but we never lived in a better place than Hawaii. The Big Island is not a tourist area like Maui, but is a more rural and "normal" place to live. The daily temperature is 82 degrees. Everyday. At night it goes into the high 40's. Honoka'a is like a throw back to the 1950 America. Soda shops, golf, a full restored movie theatre showing first run American and English movies for 5 dollars. Less if you are a senior. The world famous Waimai Country Club is just down the road and you can play for less than fifty dollars. It is a touch of Old Scotland. The golf course sits at about 5,000 meters and is very cool year round. This Island has active volcanoes, Mauna Kea where you can snow ski, and tropical jungles. It also has the most beautiful beaches and wonderful people in the world. The home has been appraised at 400,000 dollars but we are selling it for 330,000 in hopes for a quick sale. Leave me a message on the forum if you are interested.